Yes - the Taurus II is part of the next COTS contract - but that's got nothing to do with it being a potential Delta II replacement.

Customers looking for Delta II like capacity could look to a lot of places, many suggested here, some not, for a replacement. Just because the as yet unflown Taurus II has a COTS contract, that doesn't render it any worse or better means of getting a Delta II sized payload into orbit. If you had opened the thread with 'US governmental customers looking for a replacement for Delta II that isn't a Falcon 9' - maybe you would be on to something.

Yes - the Taurus II is part of the next COTS contract - but that's got nothing to do with it being a potential Delta II replacement.

Customers looking for Delta II like capacity could look to a lot of places, many suggested here, some not, for a replacement. Just because the as yet unflown Taurus II has a COTS contract, that doesn't render it any worse or better means of getting a Delta II sized payload into orbit.

Doug

Why do you think OSC was picked ? It wasn't because the Cygnus was better than the other front ends. COTS I wasn't about ISS resupply. NASA (the only real future Delta II class customer) picked it because of Taurus II.

None of the "other" ones are viable with the current market and especially without guaranteed order

ATK won't go forward. Falcon 9 Heavy is not in the same class (performance and cost wise), Ariane 5 is too big (even 1/2) and is not available to NASA

I brought this up on this forum because the lost of Delta II would be a determent to science missions and be of concern to forum members

Again - had you started this thread ' Potential LV's that NASA could use to replace the Delta II ' - then fine. That's not what you said. you said ' Potential Delta II replacement'. NASA is not the only customer the Delta II has had in the last 19 years, nor is it the only customer in the next 12 launches, nor is the Delta II the only vehicle to have been filling that requirement in its lifetime. There are many alternatives for those customers to turn to, some that have been flying for years, some that are yet to fly.

If COTS 1 wasn't about ISS resupply, then someone better tell SpaceX and NASA who have described it thus:

SpaceX".. demonstrating delivery of cargo to the ISS and safe return of cargo to Earth"

NASA"to develop and demonstrate the vehicles, systems, and operations needed to support a human facility such as ISS."

I wasn't going to say this publicly but two threads in one day have dissolved to this sort of back and forth. I'm not sure if you're doing it intentionally, but it seems that you are going out of your way to be pedantic, argumentative and infuriating.

1. , nor is it the only customer in the next 12 launches, nor is the Delta II the only vehicle to have been filling that requirement in its lifetime. There are many alternatives for those customers to turn to, some that have been flying for years, some that are yet to fly.

2. If COTS 1 wasn't about ISS resupply, then someone better tell SpaceX and NASA who have described it thus:

1. Aside from 4 GPS, which is leaving the Delta II, NASA is the only customer. The two STSS missions are NASA procured. (I am working one of them). There are no alternatives for Delta II's (from qualified providers) at former Delta II's prices. That is the reason Delta II going away because of its cost

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